By STEVEN ZANDE –
CHIEF Justice Irene Mambilima has called for increased and equitable participation of women and men in science development to enhance its contribution to socio-economic development in Africa.
Ms Justice Mambilima said the future of science and technology, and its contribution to Africa’s development was dependent on equal participation of both women and men in natural sciences.
Justice Mambilima said there was need to reverse the current trend in most African countries where the number of females pursuing science courses remained lower than that of males.
She said this in Lusaka on Thursday during a Zambia Academy of Sciences workshop held under the theme ‘Applying the gender lens in science education in Africa’.
“Poverty is high in regions with slow progress towards gender equality in education and political decision making.
“These regions are faced with frequent disease outbreaks due to limited knowledge about hygiene,” she said in a speech read for her by Judge Florence Lengalenga.
She said scientists and policy makers had a duty to ensure more females participated in science and technology courses in order to enhance gender parity in science education.
Ms Justice Mambilima noted that local statistics revealed low enrollment of females in courses such as engineering as opposed to education courses, which recorded a one-to-one ratio.
Academy of Sciences president, Kavwanga Yambayamba said increased participation of girls in natural  sciences was crucial for African countries to attain the desired levels of socio-economic
development.
Professor Yambayamba said girls had in the past been discouraged from attempting to take up courses in mathematics, science and engineering, among others.
The workshop, which drew participation of experts in different fields from South Africa, Mozambique, Ethiopia, and Zambia, convened to draft a policy makers’ guide on improving the participation of females in science and technology.